City of Oshawa welcomes Ontario Parasport Games this weekend

The City of Oshawa welcomes hundreds of visitors this weekend as the Durham Region 2023 Ontario Parasport Games bring more than 500 participants, including athletes, organizers and volunteers, to compete in over ten sports. Three of the eight competition venues are located right here in Oshawa.

Community members are invited to cheer on:

• 5-a-side Soccer at the Civic Recreation Complex (99 Thornton Rd. S.) at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on both Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5;
• Wheelchair Basketball at Durham College and Ontario Tech University’s Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre (21 Avenue of Champions) between 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 and beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 5, followed by the gold medal game at 12 p.m.; and,
• Wheelchair and Visually Impaired Curling at the Oshawa Curling Club (226 Bond St. E.) at 10:15 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 4 and 9:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 5 with medal rounds at 1 p.m.

Full schedules for sports held at Oshawa venues and other Durham Region venues are available on the Games website.

While it’s free to attend any event, spectators are encouraged to bring donations for Feed the Need in Durham to support the local community. Feed the Need in the Durham has provided a list of items most in need.

For City of Oshawa updates, visit Oshawa.ca/NewsCentre to follow us on social media, subscribe to news and alerts, and have your say on Connect Oshawa.

Quotes:

“We are thrilled that the Ontario Parasport Games has selected Oshawa venues to host its competitions again,” said Mayor Dan Carter. “In addition to the exciting experience the Games provide to the athletes and volunteers, they also bring awareness to what it means to provide inclusive, accessible and welcoming spaces for all. I encourage community members to cheer on the participants this weekend and be the roar in the stands.”

“Oshawa hosting three of the eight Durham Region 2023 competition venues is indicative of the importance our city places on creating inclusive, accessible and adaptive sport opportunities,” said Councillor Tito-Dante Marimpietri, Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. “Not only will the Games highlight the featured parasports and their athletes, it will also have an estimated local economic impact of nearly $700,000 region-wide. I look forward to seeing the excitement in our community surrounding this esteemed event.”

“This the second time our City and the Region have been selected to host the Ontario Passport Games,” said Councillor Bob Chapman, Vice-Chair of the Economic and Development Services Committee. “These Games celebrate inclusiveness and accessibility, as well as the dedicated work of the organizers and volunteers, and the huge training commitment of the athletes, they will surely have a lasting legacy in our City. I wish all competitors the best of luck!”